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Single-atom Laser Built at Caltech
hweimer writes "A research group at Caltech has successfully constructed a laser consisting of only one caesium atom. The emitted light is very weak but highly ordered, so such a device may be used to control a quantum computer. More on this can be found at PhysicsWeb."
Here's a handy link with all the articles on GoogleNews:
http://news.google.com/news?q=single+atom+laser
(Blatantly stolen from link on the right of the article)
But it does answer the question I was asking myself...
Conversion Rate Optimisation French / English consultant
It's a reference to the movie Austin Powers: Goldmember. Scottie gives his dad, Dr. Evil, "sharks with frickin' laser beams on their heads" in an attempt to win his affection.
austin powers 1 was where that joke started, not austin powers 3.
Here you go...
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Well, you've got to start from somewhere...
Since I've had two replies that basically say the same thing, I'll reply to myself to answer:
1. Of course it isn't easy; and
2. This is a tool that quantum computer researchers have pretty much been requesting - a laser to more easily manipulate the devices they currently are using.
Point is, this isn't some obscure, not so useful (yet) tool - it has immediate applications, and can be put to immediate use.
The cesium atom is just like the ruby from a ruby laser.
Except that active part of a ruby laser are chromium ions.
There are other components, including, according to the article, at least two OTHER laseres, presumably of the multi-atom variety. So that begs the question: Is it really an accomplishment when you use two lasers to make a WEAKER laser?
The monochromatic light from a laser is the result of an electron moving to a lower energy state. In order for this to happen it first needs to have been moved to a higher energy state. This is presumably what the other 2 lasers are doing.
Off the top of my head I can think of two areas where this could be useful for quantum computing. The first would be as a way to comvert flying qubits (photons) in to stationary qubits. If this could be done, than technology such as quantum repeaters would be possible, therefore allowing for long distance quantum cryptography. The second would be as a single photon source, which would have big applications in optical quantum computing.
The article, however, was very light on specifics. It says that the light exhibits antibunching, yet calls it a laser. My understanding of coherent states was that the probability of sending out two photons was high enough that it causes problems with quantum cryptography (Eve can simply observe one of the flying qubits and let the other one go). So do they envision using this as a single photon source? I haven't had a chance to read the journal article yet, so if someone who has a little more info could clarify I would be quite appreciative.
Okay, damn. Thought the average reader kept up with technology news. THEY ARE, AND HAVE, BUILT "QUANTUM COMPUTERS". They don't work well, and are very simplistic at this point, but they do seem to work, and they need something, like this laser, to bring them to the next level (like, for example, being useful). Here's a link: IBM's computer (one of many)
The elements on the far left side of the periodic table of elements are reactive with water. The farther down you go, the more reactive you get. For example, pure sodium produces a relatively mild reaction. Cesium, on the other hand, creates an absolutely HUGE reaction (BOOM!).
It's a chemistry joke.
-- Dr. Eldarion --